BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU
How time flies! It is eight years since Dr. Rex Nnochiru Otuka, the sagacious politician from Abia State, joined his forefathers. But it still feels like yesterday.

The remembrance of Otuka at this time becomes very compelling following the heightened political activities in the land. Anyone who knew him and the part he played within the political firmament, first, in Abia State and, later, South-east and the federal level would surely be missing him now.

Otuka, an accomplished medical doctor, veered off his profession into politics. His passion, however, was exclusively to better the lot of his people. Even before his entry into the fray, he was already a famous philanthropist.

In public service, Otuka achieved results through the display of selflessness, integrity, hard work and loyalty. Until his passage into the great beyond in 2007 on active duty, Otuka was the Chairman, Abia State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. But before then, he had been the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the party at the state level in October 2005 as well as Deputy Chairman in 2006.

While he served as the Chairman of the party during the days of Orji Uzor Kalu as governor of the state under the PDP, Otuka pursued unity, peace and harmony. This accounted for the friendly political atmosphere in the state then. As one of the founding members of the party, Otuka worked to give credibility to both the party and the political governance of the state.

Recognizing Otuka’s humility and contributions to humanity, one time Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Moses Ogbe, said Otuka “lived a fruitful and useful life as he served humanity in various capacities”. His Royal Highness, Eze HenryNdubuisi Ibegbu (Uga II of Nkwoegwu Autonomous Community), described Otuka as “a leader who served others and inspired the community with his tacit determination for success”.

Similarly, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who is Otuka’s kinsman from Ohafia, the same Abia State, said,”His immense contribution during the elections in the state cannot be over-emphasized, no doubt, his death has created a large vacuum in the management of our great party in the State. He will be greatly missed by his friends, especially the Abia State Chapter of PDP”.

Losing such a good man suddenly could be so painful to both his relatives and political associates who would have benefited from his immense wealth of political experience, connections and goodwill. But while many still feel pained, his son, Mr. Rex Otuka Jr, has comfortably stepped into his late father’s shoes.

A holder of BBA in Supply Chain Management from the University of Houston, Texas, United States of America, USA, Otuka Junior has pledged to continue with the legacies of his father. “My Father is the greatest man I know and it will be an injustice to my community, to Abia, and even to the entire Nation, if I do not walk in his footsteps and continue his legacy of leadership, truth, loyalty and service”, he said.

Already, Otuka Jr has started with a non governmental organization, NGO, called “ The Great Foundation” through which he is touching lives. He added: “The philanthropic gestures have just begun. There would be more to follow which is expected to go beyond his immediate environment, sprawling to his electoral constituency, senatorial District, State and the entirety of Nigeria”.